as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
extremely waspish, she uses her wit viciously when irritated
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Recent Examples of waspish
Spitting Image has delivered a typically waspish response after Deadline revealed this week that the show had been served with a lawsuit by the owners of Paddington Bear.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
But what a response — a performance full of waspish pressing, muscular defending and precise, efficient counters.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
In contrast to her expansive mate, Toklas was a waspish temple gatekeeper who never ceased to hold grudges.
—Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
At his waspish best, Mr. Wheatcroft is entertaining on all this.
—Richard Aldous, WSJ, 8 Oct. 2021
The waspish Queen – played by Rebecca Trehearn, whose deliciously withering grandeur would give Marie Antoinette pause — is not, to put it mildly, pleased.
—David Benedict, Variety, 19 Aug. 2021
Once again, waspish commentators noted, an American woman has caused a ruction in the royal family.
—Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2020
The book brings to life characters such as the waspish U.S. Army general Joseph Stilwell and the eccentric U.S. ambassador Patrick Hurley.
—Richard Bernstein, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2014
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
But what a response — a performance full of waspish pressing, muscular defending and precise, efficient counters.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
In contrast to her expansive mate, Toklas was a waspish temple gatekeeper who never ceased to hold grudges.
—Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
At his waspish best, Mr. Wheatcroft is entertaining on all this.
—Richard Aldous, WSJ, 8 Oct. 2021
The waspish Queen – played by Rebecca Trehearn, whose deliciously withering grandeur would give Marie Antoinette pause — is not, to put it mildly, pleased.
—David Benedict, Variety, 19 Aug. 2021
Once again, waspish commentators noted, an American woman has caused a ruction in the royal family.
—Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2020
The book brings to life characters such as the waspish U.S. Army general Joseph Stilwell and the eccentric U.S. ambassador Patrick Hurley.
—Richard Bernstein, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2014
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waspish
Adjective
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Perhaps through feeling more irritable, more anxious, or wanting to isolate.—
Joy Harden Bradford,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Had my symptoms maybe been put down to irritable bowel, for example, that could’ve been ongoing and ongoing and ongoing for a much longer period of time.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The fiery lawmaker, who leads the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party, was charged alongside his bodyguards Anton Snyman, after the video of the incident went viral.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Mercury in your sign is lined up with Neptune, while your ruler fiery Mars gets a boost from Pluto.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waspish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waspish. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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